Eyeglass-case.



PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905.

F. A. TIBBALS. BYEGLASS CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29 1902 7 Mine STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

ATENT FFlCE.

TO WILTON E. DRAKE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

EYEGLASS-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,182, dated June 13, 1905. Application filed May 29,1902. Serial No. 109,518.

To (all whom, zit may concern.-

Be it known that 1', FRANK A. TIBBALS, a citizen of the United States, residing at eymouth Center, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eyeglass- Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The presentinvention relates to an improvement in eyeglass-cases.

In the manufacture of spring-lid eyeglasscases diificulty has heretofore been encountered in so constructing the case and arranging the lining that the latter would not be seriously distorted by the spring when the lid was closed. Various attempts have been made to overcome this objection; but so far as I am aware in all prior cases there was required such an excess of lining over the spring as to form a large bunch on the inside of the case when the lid was closed, requiring not only more material for the lining, but a larger case to hold a pair of eyeglasses of a given size owing to the occupation of a considerable space by such lining.

One of the objects of my invention, therefore, is to produce an eyeglass-case provided with a spring for holding the lid open and closed that will interfere with the lining as little as possible and will not form an objectionable fold of lining in the case when the lid is closed.

Another object of my inventionis to improve the construction of eyeglass-cases by simplification of the spring and its connection with the lid and box, whereby other advantages apparent to those skilled in the art are obtained.

To the above ends the present invention consists in the eyeglass-case hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan of my improved eyeglasscase as it appears when open. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same closed; and Fig. 3

l is a sectional elevation of the same closed,

showing in dotted lines the position of the lid and hinge when the case is open.

In the drawings the lid 1 is hinged to the box 2 by hinges 3 of any suitable or preferred 4: is pivotally attached at one end to thebox and at the other end to the lid, the pivotal attachment to the box being below the axis of the hinge and the pivotal attachment to the lid being above the axis of the hinge. otal attachment to the box is made by cutting an oblong hole in the'middle of the back of the box and rolling the portion of the back above the hole into a pintle 5, which is enpivotal attachment to the lid is made by cutting an oblong hole or slit 6 in the middle of the rear part of the lid which is engaged by the upper end of the spring. When the lid of connection of the spring with the box and lid lies on the outside of the axis of the hinge. The pressure exerted by the spring upon its pivots therefore tends to hold the lid open.

when the lid is closed, and the existence of a large bunch of lining upon the inside of the box is avoided.

My invention is not limited to the specific companying drawings, but contemplates in its broader aspects the use of a C -shaped spring pivotally attached to the lid above the axis of the hinge and pivotally attached to the ment being such that the pressure of the spring upon its pivots tends to hold the lid open after it has been opened and tends to hold the lid construction. A C-shaped sheet-metal spring 5 5 The piv- 6o gaged by the lower end of the spring. The

is open, the line joining the two pivotal points 7 When the lid is closed, the line joining the By reference to Fig. 3 this feature and lid, is not much distorted by the spring 5 form of spring or box illustrated in the ac- 9 box below the axis of the hinge, the arrangeclosed after it has been closed, the lines of pressure lying upon opposite sides of the axis in the two positions.

My invention is not limited to use in connection with eyeglass-eases, but may be used in connection with spring-lid boxes for any use, such as jewelry-boxes and the like.

lrlaving thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. An eyeglass-case having, in combination, a body, a lid hinged thereto, and. a C-shaped sheet-metal spring with hooked ends located inside the case and pivotally connected at either end to the body and lid respectively, the pivotal connection with one of said members being secured by a slit therein one side of which is engaged by the hooked end of the spring, substantially as described.

2. An eyeglass-case,having, in combination, a body, a lid hinged thereto, a spring connecting the body and the lid, and a pintle upon which one end of the spring is pivoted formed by rolling over the edge of one member of the case, substantially as described.

3. An eyeglass-case, having, in combination, a body, a lid, a C-shaped sheet-metal spring located inside the case having its ends pivotally connected to the lid and body above and below the axis of the hinge, respectively, and having its open side toward the axis of the hinge, substantially as described.

t. An eycglass-case,having, in combination, a body, a lid, a C-shaped sheet-metal spring located inside the case and having its ends pivotally connected to the lid and body above and below the axis of the hinge, respectively, and having its open side toward the axis of the hinge, the pivotal connection with the lid being secured by cutting a slit in the lid to receive the upper end of the spring, and the pivotal connection with the box being secured by rolling a portion of the rear side of the box into a pintlc around which the lower end of the spring passes, substantially as described.

5. An eyeglass-case,having, in combination,

, a body, a lid hinged thereto, a O-shaped spring pivotally connected to the lid above the axis of the hinge by engagement with a hole in said lid, and pivotally connected to the body below the axis of the hinge by engagement with a pintlc on said body, substantially as described.

6. An eyeglass-case,having, in combination, a body, a lid hinged thereto, aC-shapcd metal spring located inside the case having its ends pivotally connected to the lid and the body above and below the axis of the hinge respectively by engagement with a hole in said lid and a pintle on said body and having its open side toward the axis of the hinge, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I. aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. 'llBBALS. \Vitnesses:

I'IORACE VAN .Evnnnn, Ami-nil) .l'l. HiLnim'rH. 

